Sign construction



Nov. 11, 1930. H. c. GAMMETER SIGN CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledFeb. 27, 1928 x KQQ m 5% QB; KN

m n n w m 5 $3 EEfi 2 5 Nov. 11, 1930. H. c. GAMMETER SIGN CONSTRUCTIONFiled Feb. 27, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2' Patented Nov. 11, 1930 N ED,STATES "PATENT OFFICE;

HARRY c. GAMMETER, or cLEvEnAnn HEIGHTS, 01110 v outdoor f advertisingPl i g ah 35 SIGN CONSTRUCTION- Am-Lean a February 27, 1928. Serial no.257,144.

L present invention, like that constituting the [subject matter of mycope nding applica tion Serial No.224,'5 10, filedOCtQb r 7, 1927,relates to signs thatare adapted for-use as deyices marlrers for parksand institutions, and "other similar displays 1 Like that of the formercase, purpose of this invention is to the primary produce a device ofthe aboye'mentioned character that is artistic, neat and attractive ofappearance and, therefore, not open to the objections urged against theordinary (type of signboardsf e Another object is toj produce "devicesof the foregoing nature having removablepanels on which the matterdto bedisplayed is painted or to which it is otherwise applied.Thisjconstruction permits the'signs to' be easilyandquibkly changed fromtime to time enables thesignbearing panels to be painted orbtherwise'produced' in'la shop and taken ltof the display locationswhere they are pp e i the su p fi na tru u e and allowsthe" 'ainesignsf'to be interchanged among severallocationsif desired. 7 jQtherobjeots of the present invention are to provide a somewhatsimplerand correp nd ns las exp n v e 'n n e en. which, insoine'respects,especially as towind resistance,is moresubstantial and durable thanits Ps l D iby natur e jwhi h h erection of the sign is facilitated, and theemexpeditedgj I M L d I The foregoing objects, 'With othershereinafterappeaning, are-attained in the construction'fillnstrated in"the accompanying drawingswhe'rein Fig. 1' is afront elevation, and 2 iei'endj e bf s g s r u e incorporating the invention"; "Fig. T3 is anenl'arge'd, rragmemary, firorit eleyational View showing an" endportionof the panel and ad- 'jacent parts ofthe supporting structure;

:Figlisa section on he lines H ofFigsf. 1

andSQandFig. '5is asectfion on the line 5 5 1 F g- -1 T] l I y I p Q. 1Td e m se e r lly; pp g f truc-ture, and panels that are re- "mover-1y"sustained thereby.

The supporting structure consists of an upper-cross member 1 and a lowercross memher 2 that are supported by and between two pairs of uprightsthat are designated, respectively, 3 and. 4. ,Theuprigh-ts of each pairare parallel and are spaced apart a distance somewhat less than thediameter of the cross members 1 and 2, and where said members passbetween theuprights of each pair, said uprights are notched, as shownate, to accommodate the full diameter of the cross members. Where thecross members and uprights are thus interengaged with one another, theyare prov i dedwith aligning holes for the accommodation of, bolts 6towhich nuts are applied for drawingthe parts firmly together. Thisrelatively simple construction provides a very substantial framestructure that iscapablejof withstanding high wind pressures.Theuprights 3 and i are preferablyset in cement bases .10; that servethe two purposes of lending rigidity to the structure and protectingjjthe uprights from decay inthe region ofthe ground line. The cementbases may ormay not extend entire lyito 'thetlower ends of the uprights.It

shouldbe explained that the cross members 11 and 2jand1the uprights 3and 41 are preferably of wood and of the same diameter, thus makingitpossible to construct all these parts from the same prepared material. a

At suitable points along the cross members 1and2 areyertical holesthrough which the body portions of hooks 12 are extended, and

nuts 13,;are applied to the threaded ends of the hooksabovethe crossmember 1 and belowrthe' cross member 2. "Engaged with the hooks. 12thatare located adjacentthe ends therewith have registering slots,"designated 17, through which the hooks 12 are passed. Ledges'lfi aresimilarly connected to the front an rear sides of the lower ends of thestraps ItandhaVe slots 19 for the reception of the corresponding lowerhooks 12. A strap 20, similar to the straps 14, but minus the clips andledges 18, have slots 21 that are engaged over the vertically spacedhooks 12 that are shown as located at substantially the longitudinalcenter of the structure.

The sign panels, designated generally by I the numeral 25,- are eachconstructed, according to the present embodiment ofthe'invention, asfollows: To a rectangular wooden frame 26 is secured.themarginalportionof a metal sheet 27, on which the sign is painted orto which it is otherwise applied," and overlying said portion of thesheet is a finishing frame 28 that is composed of-top,-bottom and= endmembers that are mitered at the corners of the panel. The frame 26 mayinclude intermediate vertical members shown :in dot? tedlinesin Fig. 1and-designatedl26 and the metal sheet 27 may be tacked} thereto. It

is obvious that'the concealediframe-26may include any number andarrangement of cross members to which the sheet 27 may be attached forimparting stiffnesstoxthelatter and for-retaining it'in fiat-condition.The members of the finishing frame 28 may "be attached to the concealedframe 26 by screws,

nails or other "fastening means that pass through the edge portion ofthe sheet'27 The panels are gapplied to the supporting structure byengaging {their up er edges beneath the clips 15 and swinging theminwardly againstthe straps14and20 so as to dispose their lower edges on[the ledges 18.

They may be held in this position by engaging bolts 30 through alignedholes in the panels and in the st'rapsl l. This provides a very simplemethod of applying'and removingthe Ypanels, it being only necessaryto'remove the two bolts 30 to disconnect the panels from the supportingstructure ln the present construction; the strap 20, devoid of clipsandiledgesyconstitutes onlya wind brace, "and my reason for omitting theclips and ledges from this strap is-to aVoid-thea'ccuracy which wouldbe'made necessary 'if the panels were to havethree points-of'bea-ringat'the topand at the bottom: Obviously the straps 14 are placedunder-tension when the hooks 12'are drawn up by the nuts;13, as

otherwise said straps wouldbedoose 'and fail in their purpose as aboveset "forth,es-.

pecially as to their wind bracing function. Having thus described'myinvention, what I claim is 1'. Ina device of" the character described,the combination of opposed supportsar- *ranged in verticallyspacedrelation, a plurality of not less than three-elongated:elementssustained by andjtensioned between said supports, panel embracing clipsimmovably secured] to two of said elements adj acentfth'eir upperends,ledges having unobstructed top surfaces and likewise secured to said twoelements a'dyaoentitheir lower ends, asign panel that is adapted to beplaced flatwise against said elements with its upper edge embraced bysaid clips and its lower edge resting upon said ledges, and means forremovably secur- -wiseengageinent="witlf theopposite sides oftheelements withtheir upper edges embraced by the. aforesaid clips andtheir lower edges resting upon said'ledges, andmeansfor re.-' movablysecuring the panels to the elements;

I 3. Ina device of th'echaracter described, the combination 'of' opposedsupports arranged in substantially vertically spacedrelation, hookscarried bysaid supports, those ofone support being opposed to those ofthe other, metallic straps sustained by and between the correspondinghooks of the two supports, and a sign panel removably secured 'to,

andin'flat'wise engagementwith, the straps.

' 4. In a device of the character described, the combination. ofopposed; supports vargas ranged substantially in vertically spacedrelation, ho'okscarried'by said supports, those of one support beingopposed to those of the other, metallic straps sustained by and'betweenthe corresponding hooks of the; two

supports,- clips carried by'certain of said straps adjacent oneysupport,ledges carried by certain of said straps adj ace'nt the other support,and a sign'panel adapted tobe placed in fiatlwise engagement-with thestrapswith its upper edge fembraced by the clips and its ,lower edgesbearing upon said. ld'ges, and means for detachably'securingl the panelin the position described.

'5'. Ina device of the fcharacter'described,

the combination of twosubstantially horizontal 1 supports that; arespaced apart vertically,

said supports having'transverse bores, those of one supportbeingapproximately in alignmentwith those of theother support,- ,hooksthrough the bores of the-upper support, similar hooks having theirshanks vprojected downwardly through the boresoffthe lower support, aplurality of metallic straps each having aperturesin its ends engagedwiththe correspondinghooks of the opposed supports,

having threaded v shanks extended upwardly nuts applied tothe shanksofthe hooks. outwardly beyond said supports,.clips 'securedto the upperendsof'certain of said straps, ledges securedto the lower ends ofcertain ofsaid straps, a sign panel that is adapted. to he placedinflatwise engagement withthezst raps with its upper edge embraced'bysaid'clip's and its lower edge resting'upon said ledges, and

means for detachably securing the panel in place upon said ledges.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of twosubstantially horizontal supports that are spaced apart vertically, saidsupports having transverse bores, those of one support beingapproximately in alignment with those of the other support, hooks havingthreaded shanks extended through the bores of the supports, the hooks ofeach support being arranged with their heads toward those of the othersupport, a plurality of metallic straps each having apertures in itsends that are engaged with the corresponding hooks of the opposedsupports, nuts applied to the shanks of the hooks outwardly beyond saidsupports, clips secured to the opposite sides of the upper ends ofcertain of said straps, ledges secured to the opposite sides of thelower ends of certain of said straps, sign panels adapted to be placedin fiatwise engagement with the opposite sides of the straps with theirupper edges embraced by said clips and their lower edges resting uponsaid ledges,

and means passing through the opposed panels and certain of said strapsfor detachably securing the panels in place upon said ledges.

7. In a device of the character described,

the combination of opposed pairs of uprights, cross members having theirends arranged between the uprights-of the opposed pairs, the uprightsand cross members all being of substantially the same diameter and theuprights of each pair beingspaced a distance apart less than saiddiameter and notched to accommodate the cross members, means passingthrough the cross members and adjacent parts of the uprights for bindingthe uprights and cross members together, elongated elements supported byand between the cross members, and sign panels removably secured to, andin flatwise engagement with, the opposite sides of said elements.

' In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature.

HARRY G. GAMMETER.

